President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need for a transition to a 'startup society' to address changes in employment structures due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. He called for improvements in educational programs, increased financial support, and regulatory innovation during the 51st Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House.
"South Korea must become a massive startup incubator, moving toward a national startup era where all citizens can be agents of growth," President Lee stated.
He noted that the existing economic and social systems, which relied on quantitative growth to create jobs and drive societal advancement, are now facing limitations. "In a situation where growth does not lead to job creation, it is essential to transition to a startup society where diverse economic actors can directly create new industries, companies, and markets," he stressed.
President Lee also urged the establishment of a supportive framework for entrepreneurship. He stated that anyone with good ideas and technology should be able to freely pursue entrepreneurship and have the opportunity to try again even after failure. He added that it is crucial to build a multi-layered support system encompassing finance, technology, and market access to help promising startups grow into global companies.
On the occasion of Small Business Day, President Lee remarked, "We must create a virtuous cycle in the national economy where increased exports lead to domestic recovery, and the growth achievements of certain industries and large corporations are shared with small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners."
Additionally, President Lee addressed the need for measures to stabilize the living conditions of vulnerable populations during the winter. He pointed out that rising oil prices and inflation due to the prolonged Middle East conflict could make it more challenging for low-income individuals to endure the winter. He requested a thorough reassessment of existing support systems to alleviate the heating cost burden on struggling citizens.
He urged proactive identification of crisis households that fall through the welfare cracks to provide necessary services promptly, and called for comprehensive safety inspections and winter preparedness measures for vulnerable housing facilities such as goshiwons and small rooms.
President Lee emphasized, "Welfare should not be something people wait for; it should be something that reaches them first." He urged efforts to ensure that no citizen is unable to access necessary government support due to a lack of knowledge about the system or complicated procedures.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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